Mooney Mooney crash prompts inquiry call

Sat 30 Oct 2004, 9:24 AM AEST

The New South Wales Opposition has called for an independent inquiry into heavy vehicle monitoring after claims a truck involved in last week's fatal accident on the Mooney Mooney Bridge was carrying number plates belonging to a different vehicle.

One woman died and two were seriously injured when the truck crashed into a line of 35 cars on the Mooney Mooney Bridge.

Police have refused to confirm newspaper reports of drugs being found in the cabin of the truck but say a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Opposition roads spokesman Don Page says the false number plates were not detected by police when the truck was booked for speeding in September.

He is also concerned they were not picked up when the truck passed through an RTA weigh station before the accident.

RTA documents show the vehicle was unregistered, uninsured and had fake number plates.

Mr Page says there needs to be a better approach to heavy vehicle detection and compliance in New South Wales to prevent future accidents.

"For five weeks this vehicle has been known to the system and yet when it came to being removed from the road, for some reason it has not been and that points to systemic failure of a serious nature." he said.